A critical evaluation of the European drug strategy: Has it brought added value to drug policy making at the national level?

Background: The current European Drug Strategy (EDS) and attendant Action Plan come to an end this year signalling a period of evaluation of and reflection on whether they have achieved their aims and objectives. Methodology: This opinion based article seeks to add a critical and academic evaluation to the mix, which is focused on determining the extent to which the European drug policy has brought added value to drug policy that is formulated at the national level, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. The analysis presented here examines the five key areas defined by the EDS: coordination, demand reduction, supply reduction, international cooperation and information, research and evaluation. Results: It suggests that, while clear benefits have been brought in the realm of information, research and evaluation and the development of harm reduction measures, there is still significant progress yet to be made. Conclusion: It finds that neither the Commission's dedication to increasing focus on law-enforcement methods, nor the Council's prescription for 'more of the same' are particularly beneficial to the development of European drug policy. Instead, the priorities should be building on areas where added value has been engendered and on allowing diversity in policy to flourish. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.